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Hunger Is on the Rise. Food Donors Are Getting Creative. Hunger Is on the Rise. Food Donors Are Getting Creative.
(32 minutes later)
When Diego Gerena-Quiñones zips through the afternoon traffic in Midtown Manhattan on his cargo bike, it looks like he could be delivering shoes or office supplies. But his load is much more indispensable.When Diego Gerena-Quiñones zips through the afternoon traffic in Midtown Manhattan on his cargo bike, it looks like he could be delivering shoes or office supplies. But his load is much more indispensable.
Everyday, Mr. Gerena-Quiñones and others at his cargo bike company make numerous pickups for Transfernation, a nonprofit that arranges for corporate cafeterias and restaurants to donate uneaten food to soup kitchens.Everyday, Mr. Gerena-Quiñones and others at his cargo bike company make numerous pickups for Transfernation, a nonprofit that arranges for corporate cafeterias and restaurants to donate uneaten food to soup kitchens.
On a recent afternoon, Mr. Gerena-Quiñones made his third pickup at a private equity firm on Park Avenue, before heading to a law office a few blocks away. At both locations, a dining services employee gave him several trays of untouched, uneaten food, which on that day included grain salad, chicken meatballs and fresh fruit.On a recent afternoon, Mr. Gerena-Quiñones made his third pickup at a private equity firm on Park Avenue, before heading to a law office a few blocks away. At both locations, a dining services employee gave him several trays of untouched, uneaten food, which on that day included grain salad, chicken meatballs and fresh fruit.
His final stop was the soup kitchen at Crossroads Community Services on East 51st Street and Park Avenue, where about 200 meals are handed out every weeknight.His final stop was the soup kitchen at Crossroads Community Services on East 51st Street and Park Avenue, where about 200 meals are handed out every weeknight.
A dozen people stood in line outside the community center over an hour before the meals would be distributed. Half an hour later, the rear of the line approached Park Avenue. “The question,” Mr. Gerena-Quiñones said after dropping off the food and observing the growing line, “is how can we scale this?”A dozen people stood in line outside the community center over an hour before the meals would be distributed. Half an hour later, the rear of the line approached Park Avenue. “The question,” Mr. Gerena-Quiñones said after dropping off the food and observing the growing line, “is how can we scale this?”
Food aid organization officials say their work feels like it’s going against the tide. Although 1.4 million city residents rely on various emergency food programs like food pantries and soup kitchens, that number is expected to significantly grow this year, as the federal government tightens the requirements to receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, formerly known as food stamps.Food aid organization officials say their work feels like it’s going against the tide. Although 1.4 million city residents rely on various emergency food programs like food pantries and soup kitchens, that number is expected to significantly grow this year, as the federal government tightens the requirements to receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, formerly known as food stamps.
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Beginning April 1, the United States Department of Agriculture will require all single, able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 49 who don’t have children, to work 20 hours per week, or they will lose their benefits after three months. About 73,000 city residents will be affected, and about 31,000 could lose their benefits outright because they won’t be able to comply, said Sherry Tomasky, the communications director at Hunger Solutions New York, a nonprofit. Beginning April 1, the United States Department of Agriculture will require all single, able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 49 who don’t have children and who are on food assistance to work 20 hours per week, or they will lose their SNAP benefits after three months. About 73,000 city residents will be affected, and about 31,000 could lose their benefits outright because they won’t be able to comply, said Sherry Tomasky, the communications director at Hunger Solutions New York, a nonprofit.
On top of that, a new policy that can deny green cards to immigrants who seem likely to rely on government benefits has pushed 78,000 noncitizens to drop or not enroll in SNAP altogether, even when they’re legally entitled to it, said Steven Banks, the city’s Human Resources Administration commissioner.On top of that, a new policy that can deny green cards to immigrants who seem likely to rely on government benefits has pushed 78,000 noncitizens to drop or not enroll in SNAP altogether, even when they’re legally entitled to it, said Steven Banks, the city’s Human Resources Administration commissioner.
And the coronavirus pandemic is adding a new challenge: will food-insecure households have enough to eat in the event of a quarantine?And the coronavirus pandemic is adding a new challenge: will food-insecure households have enough to eat in the event of a quarantine?
Although New York has introduced legal actions to stop the SNAP and green card changes, food insecurity is still a growing problem. This is why creative, hyperlocal solutions like Transfernation have been so busy.Although New York has introduced legal actions to stop the SNAP and green card changes, food insecurity is still a growing problem. This is why creative, hyperlocal solutions like Transfernation have been so busy.
Using about 10 cargo cyclists and DoorDash drivers, the organization makes daily pickups from about 30 locations in Manhattan every day. Hannah Dehradunwala, Transfernation’s chief executive, said the goal is to make food donation as easy as calling an Uber.Using about 10 cargo cyclists and DoorDash drivers, the organization makes daily pickups from about 30 locations in Manhattan every day. Hannah Dehradunwala, Transfernation’s chief executive, said the goal is to make food donation as easy as calling an Uber.
“I’ve noticed that if you give people an easy to use solution, they use it,” she said about the organization’s app-based service.“I’ve noticed that if you give people an easy to use solution, they use it,” she said about the organization’s app-based service.
Other local organizations doing similar work include Rethink Food NYC, Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, Roho Compost and Replate.Other local organizations doing similar work include Rethink Food NYC, Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, Roho Compost and Replate.
Hunger is a persistent problem in the United States. In 2018, 37.2 million people lived in food-insecure households, according to estimates from the Department of Agriculture, which also states that Americans waste about 30 percent of their food supply.Hunger is a persistent problem in the United States. In 2018, 37.2 million people lived in food-insecure households, according to estimates from the Department of Agriculture, which also states that Americans waste about 30 percent of their food supply.
Last year, in an effort to deal with this disparity, the city’s Sanitation Department set up a food donation portal. About 400 donors and recipients, which include businesses, community colleges, nonprofits and religious organizations, have signed up so far, helping to divert about 44 tons of food from being thrown out, said Kathryn Garcia, the Department’s commissioner.Last year, in an effort to deal with this disparity, the city’s Sanitation Department set up a food donation portal. About 400 donors and recipients, which include businesses, community colleges, nonprofits and religious organizations, have signed up so far, helping to divert about 44 tons of food from being thrown out, said Kathryn Garcia, the Department’s commissioner.
When people look at leftover food after an event and wonder if anyone wants it, the answer is always yes, Ms. Garcia said. A likely recipient, she said, is probably “right around the corner” from the event.When people look at leftover food after an event and wonder if anyone wants it, the answer is always yes, Ms. Garcia said. A likely recipient, she said, is probably “right around the corner” from the event.
The demand is such that local emergency food aid programs are at or near capacity. More than half of the soup kitchens and pantries cited in a recent report by the Food Bank for New York City said that they would run out of food in any given month, and 85 percent of them noticed more first-time visitors.The demand is such that local emergency food aid programs are at or near capacity. More than half of the soup kitchens and pantries cited in a recent report by the Food Bank for New York City said that they would run out of food in any given month, and 85 percent of them noticed more first-time visitors.
Ryan O’Connor, a program assistant at the Coalition for the Homeless, the nonprofit that runs the evening meal program at Crossroads, has helped run the soup kitchen for the past four years. He said he “used to see a big increase around the 27th of the month” from New Yorkers needing meals after they had used their paychecks to cover rent, transportation and utilities. “Now it’s more like the 20th.”Ryan O’Connor, a program assistant at the Coalition for the Homeless, the nonprofit that runs the evening meal program at Crossroads, has helped run the soup kitchen for the past four years. He said he “used to see a big increase around the 27th of the month” from New Yorkers needing meals after they had used their paychecks to cover rent, transportation and utilities. “Now it’s more like the 20th.”
Jenique Jones, a senior director of City Harvest, which redistributes food from over 2,500 businesses and organizations, said that its 400 affiliated soup kitchens and pantries could receive two million more visits this year than last.Jenique Jones, a senior director of City Harvest, which redistributes food from over 2,500 businesses and organizations, said that its 400 affiliated soup kitchens and pantries could receive two million more visits this year than last.
Although experts agree that antipoverty policies have the biggest impact on hunger, the nonprofits feel a sense of urgency to find novel ways to address food insecurity, like housing more pantries at municipal offices and schools, or working to change laws so that leftover school cafeteria food can be taken home by students.Although experts agree that antipoverty policies have the biggest impact on hunger, the nonprofits feel a sense of urgency to find novel ways to address food insecurity, like housing more pantries at municipal offices and schools, or working to change laws so that leftover school cafeteria food can be taken home by students.
Meanwhile, a public health crisis, like the current pandemic, brings hunger even more to the forefront, according to Dr. Deborah A. Frank, a professor at Boston University School of Medicine.Meanwhile, a public health crisis, like the current pandemic, brings hunger even more to the forefront, according to Dr. Deborah A. Frank, a professor at Boston University School of Medicine.
She recalled a food-insecure mother who spoke to her during the anthrax scare after 9/11. The mother was agitated because she knew she wouldn’t have enough food on hand if a quarantine was required.She recalled a food-insecure mother who spoke to her during the anthrax scare after 9/11. The mother was agitated because she knew she wouldn’t have enough food on hand if a quarantine was required.
“There are too many people who can’t stock three days’ worth of food, let alone two weeks,” she said.“There are too many people who can’t stock three days’ worth of food, let alone two weeks,” she said.
Should a quarantine happen in the city, the Coalition for the Homeless, which is monitoring the outbreak, plans to be out as usual, distributing meals, as it always has, said executive director David Giffen. In the 35 years of its existence, he said, the Coalition’s food program has never missed a night of operation, including on 9/11 and during Hurricane Sandy.Should a quarantine happen in the city, the Coalition for the Homeless, which is monitoring the outbreak, plans to be out as usual, distributing meals, as it always has, said executive director David Giffen. In the 35 years of its existence, he said, the Coalition’s food program has never missed a night of operation, including on 9/11 and during Hurricane Sandy.
The Food Bank for New York City is also monitoring the coronavirus situation. The network of soup kitchens and food pantries is incredibly resilient, even during Sandy, said Camesha Grant, the organization’s vice president of community connections and research. But, she continued, “charity is not, and has never been, a solution to hunger.”The Food Bank for New York City is also monitoring the coronavirus situation. The network of soup kitchens and food pantries is incredibly resilient, even during Sandy, said Camesha Grant, the organization’s vice president of community connections and research. But, she continued, “charity is not, and has never been, a solution to hunger.”